Laundry machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a laundry machine for reusing detergent components contained in waste wash water.  
     Water stored in an outer tub  5  during washing process and rinsing process is discharged from the outer tub  5  and introduced into a water storage tank  17 . By energizing an anode  19  and a cathode  20  to electrolyze the water stored in the water storage tank  17 , organic materials are deposited and separated and at the same time detergent components are separated and floated up. The separated detergent components are stored in a detergent container  30 , which are supplied into the outer tub  5  and reused during the washing process of the next washing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a laundry machine in which water isstored in a washing container and the laundry is washed in the washingcontainer.

2. Description of Related Art

A laundry machine has a washing container capable of loading the laundryand the laundry is washed in the washing container in which water isstored. At the time of washing, usually by putting a detergent into thewashing container, the laundry is washed with the water in which thedetergent is solved. If the laundry is washed with a detergent, organicmaterials (pollutants) attached to the laundry can be well separated andthe detergency can be improved.

Many of commercially available detergents are synthetic detergentscontaining surfactants as the main component such as sodiumalkyl-benzene sulfonate (ABS) or sodium linear alkyl-benzene sulfonate(LAS) which is hard to be biologically treated. In a conventionallaundry machine, since water used for washing is drained without anytreatment, the abovementioned surfactants contained in the syntheticdetergents are discharged as sewage without any treatment. The waterdischarge increases the burden of the water treatment in the sewagetreatment plant and at the same time it is not preferable from theviewpoint of environmental protection.

For solving this problem, Published Unexamined Japanese PatentApplication (Kokai) No. 1998-118390 proposes a laundry machine in which,by electrolyzing the water used for washing to decompose the surfactantscontained in the water and remove the detergent components from thewater, the water freed of the detergent components can be discharged.

However, in this prior art, though the detergent components contained inthe waste water can be removed, there is a problem that the detergentcomponents contained in the waste water cannot be reused for washing. Ifthe detergent components contained in the waste water can be reused, itis very economical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was made against such a background, and an objectof the present invention is to provide a laundry machine capable ofreusing the detergent components contained in the waste water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry machinecapable of realizing more economical washing.

According to the present invention, waste water used for washing anddischarged from the washing container is stored and electrolyzed, sothat organic materials and detergent components contained in the wastewater are separated. And the separated detergent components are used asa detergent for the next washing. Further, the purified water freed oforganic materials and detergent components is used for the next washingand rinsing.

Therefore, according to the present invention, wash water and adetergent can be reused, which is very economical and at the same timepreferable from the viewpoint of environmental protection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematical sectional view of a washing machine according toan embodiment of the present invention in which the washing machine issectioned along a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction and seenfrom the right side.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of control operation by acontrol section when washing is carried out by the washing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematical sectional view of a washing machine 1 accordingto an embodiment of the present invention in which the washing machine 1is sectioned along a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction andseen from the right side. In FIG. 1, the left side is the front side ofthe machine and the right side is the rear side thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, the outline of the washing machine 1 is defined bya substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 2, and a washingcontainer 3 in which the laundry can be contained is provided inside thehousing 2. In the upper end surface of the housing 2, provided is anopening 2A through which the laundry is put into and taken out of thewashing container 3. The opening 2A can be opened and closed by means ofa cover 4, and by opening the cover 4, the laundry can be put into andtaken out of the washing container 3 through the opening 2A.

The washing container 3 includes an outer tub 5 in which water can bestored and an inner tub 6 which is provided inside the outer tub 5 andfunctions as a washing and rinsing tub. The outer tub 5 is a cylindricalbottomed member including a substantially cylindrical circumferentialwall 51 the axis line of which extends in the vertical direction and abottom wall 52 closing a bottom opening of the circumferential wall 51,and having an opening 53 in the top end surface. On the other hand, theinner tub 6 is a cylindrical bottomed member including a substantiallycylindrical circumferential wall 61 with a number of small holes (notshown) the axis line of which extends in the vertical direction and thediameter of which is smaller than that of the circumferential wall 51 ofthe outer tub 5 and a bottom wall 62 closing a bottom opening of thecircumferential wall 61, and having an opening 63 in the top endsurface.

At the rear end portion of the top surface of the housing 2, provided isa connection port 2B to which one end of a connection hose (not shown)is connected with the other end thereof being connected to a watersupply equipment outside the washing machine 1. In the housing 2, awater supply pipe 9 is connected through a water supply valve 10 to theconnection port 2B. The distal end of the water supply pipe 9 is in theupper portion of the rear portion of the outer tub 5 and the inner tub6. In a washing process, a rinsing process, and the like, by opening thewater supply valve 10, water is supplied through the water supply pipe 9into the inner tub 6. A part of the water supplied into the inner tub 6flows through the small holes to the outer tub 5 side (outside of theinner tub 6) and is stored in the outer tub 5 including the inner tub 6.

In the bottom portion of the inner tub 6, provided is a pulsator 7 foragitating the water stored in the outer tub 5 to generate water flow.Below the bottom wall 52 of the outer tub 5, provided is a bearing part8 rotatably carrying a rotation shaft 81 for supporting the inner tub 6and the pulsator 7. The rotation shaft 81 has a double shaft structurein which a wing shaft is rotatably penetrated through an inner tub shaft(not shown). The distal end of the inner tub shaft is fixed to thecentral portion of the bottom wall 62 of the inner tub 6. The distal endof the wing shaft is fixed to the central portion of the pulsator 7.

The rotation shaft 81 of the bearing part 8 is rotationally driven by amotor 11. Provided below the bearing part 8 is a clutch device 12including a clutch for changing over the transmission of the rotationalforce between only to the wing shaft and both to the inner tub shaft andthe wing shaft, a reduction mechanism for reducing the rotational forceof the motor 11 at a predetermined reduction ratio, and the like.

The clutch device 12 is provided with a transmission shaft 121 connectedto the rotation shaft 81 through the clutch, the reduction mechanism,and the like. The lower end portion of the transmission shaft 121protrudes downwardly from the clutch device 12. Further, the motor 11 isprovided with a downwardly protruding rotation shaft 111. Pulleys 112,122 are attached to the lower end portions of the rotation shaft 111 ofthe motor 11 and the transmission shaft 121 respectively, and atransmission belt 13 is wound around these pulleys 112, 122.

During the washing process and the rinsing process, the rotational forceof the motor 11 is transmitted only to the wing shaft by the clutchdevice 12, so that only the pulsator 7 rotate. On the other hand, duringa dehydrating process, the rotational force of the motor 11 istransmitted both to the inner tub shaft and the wing shaft by the clutchdevice 12, so that the inner tub 6 and the pulsator 7 rotate together(at the same rotational rate).

In the bottom wall 52 of the outer tub 5, provided is a drain port 55for draining water from the outer tub 5. One end portion of a drain pipe15 is connected to the drain port 55 with the other end portion thereofreaching a drain equipment outside the laundry machine.

A drain valve 14 is interposed in the way of the drain pipe 15. Openingthe water supply valve 10 with the drain valve 14 closed allows water tobe stored in the outer tub 5. Further, opening the drain valve 14 allowswater stored in the outer tub 5 to be discharged through the drain pipe15 to the outside of the laundry machine 1.

One end portion of a branched pipe 16 is connected to a portion of thedrain pipe 15 on the upstream side of the drain valve 14. In the bottomportion of the housing 2, provided is a water storage tank 17 capable ofstoring as much water as stored in the outer tub 5 during the washingprocess or the rinsing process. The other end of the branched pipe 16 iscommunicated with the inside of the water storage tank 17 from the uppersurface of the water storage tank 17. In the way of the branched pipe17, a water storage valve 18 is interposed. According to such astructure, by opening the water storage valve 18 with the drain valve 14closed when water is stored in the outer tub 5, water in the outer tub 5can be introduced into the water storage tank 17 through the branchedpipe 16. Therefore, in this embodiment, when water stored in the outertub 5 is drained from the outer tub 5 during the washing process or therinsing process, the water is not drained to the outside of the laundrymachine 1 through the drain pipe 14 but can be introduced into the waterstorage tank 17 through the branched pipe 16 thus to be stored in thewater storage tank 17.

In the water storage tank 17, a plurality of electrodes (for example, apair of electrodes comprising an anode 19 and a cathode 20) forelectrolyzing water stored in this water storage tank 17 are opposedwith a predetermined space therebetween. The anode 19 can be formed of amaterial such as iron, aluminum, magnesium or the like (material fromwhich metal ions are eluted). The cathode 20 can be formed of the samematerial with that of the anode 19 (such as iron, aluminum, magnesium orthe like) or of a different material such as stainless from that of theanode 19 (material from which metal ions are not eluted) A cover 21which can be opened and closed is provided in the lower portion of therear surface of the housing 2. By opening this cover 21, the electrodes19, 20 in the housing 2 (in the water storage tank 17) can be maintained(exchanged).

The anode 19 and the cathode 20 are respectively connected to a controlsection 22 for controlling the operation of the laundry machine 1. Thecontrol section 22 is, for example, a structure including amicrocomputer and controls the energization to the anode 19 and thecathode 20, the driving of the motor 11, the clutch device 12, abelowmentioned detergent suction pump 23, detergent supply pump 24 andtreated water supply pump 25, and the opening and closing of the variouskinds of valves (the water supply valve 10, the drain valve 14, thewater storage valve 18, and a belowmentioned treated water suction valve26, treated water supply valve 27 and drain valve 28) and the like. Theanode 19 and the cathode 20 are supplied with electric power of avoltage not more than 15V and a current of about 1.2 A, for example.

In the case of the anode 19 formed of iron, when the anode 19 isenergized in the state that water drained from the outer tub 5 is storedin the water storage tank 17, such electrochemical reactions asrepresented by the following formulas occur in the environment the anode19.Fe→Fe³⁺+3e⁻Fe³⁺+OH⁻→Fe(OH)_(3↓)

In the case of the anode 19 formed of aluminum, when the anode 19 isenergized in the state that water drained from the outer tub 5 is storedin the water storage tank 17, such electro-chemical reactions asrepresented by the following formulas occur in the environment of theanode 19.Al→Al³⁺+3 e ⁻Al³⁺+3OH⁻→Al(O H)_(3↓)

In the case of the anode 19 formed of magnesium, when the anode 19 isenergized in the state that water drained from the outer tub 5 is storedin the water storage tank 17, such electrochemical reactions asrepresented by the following formulas occur in the environment of theanode 19.Mg→Mg²⁺+2e⁻Mg²⁺+2OH⁻→Mg(OH)_(2↓)

When the anode 19 is energized as mentioned above, metal ions (ironions, aluminum ions, magnesium ions or the like) having positivepotentials are eluted, so that an insoluble metal hydroxide (ironhydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or the like) isproduced. Since the resultant metal hydroxide has specific gravityhigher than that of water, it is precipitated in the bottom portion ofthe water storage tank 17. The water drained from the outer tub 5 andstored in the water storage tank 17 is water having used for washing andcontains organic materials (pollutants). The organic materials(pollutants) generally have negative potentials and therefore areflocculated by the metal ions eluted from the anode 19 thus to beprecipitated together with the metal hydroxide. Consequently, organicmaterials contained in the water stored in the water storage tank 17 canbe well separated.

On the other hand, when the cathode 20 is energized in the state thatwater drained from the outer tub 5 is stored in the water storage tank17, such an electro-chemical reaction as represented by the followingformula occurs in the environment of the cathode 20.2H⁺+2e ⁻→H_(2↑)

When the cathode 20 is energized like this, hydrogen gas is generatedfrom the environment of the cathode 20. When washing is carried out withthe use of a detergent, detergent components are suspended in the waterdrained from the outer tub 5 and stored in the water storage tank 17.However, the detergent components can be floated up to the water surfaceand separated by hydrogen gas generated from the environment of thecathode 20. Consequently, the detergent components contained in thewater in the water storage tank 17 can be suitably separated.

In the water storage tank 17, the lower end of a detergent suction pipe29 is opened at a position somewhat higher than the water level in thewater storage tank 17 (position where the floated and separateddetergent components are stored). A detergent container 30 is providedin the upper portion of the housing 2, and the upper end of thedetergent suction pipe 29 is communicated with the detergent container30 through the bottom wall of the detergent container 30. In the way ofthe detergent suction pipe 29, the detergent suction pump 23 isinterposed. In the bottom portion of the detergent container 30, openedis one end of a detergent supply pipe 31, the other end of which reachesthe upper portion of the rear portion of the inner tub 6. In the way ofthe detergent supply pipe 31, the detergent supply pump 24 isinterposed.

Further, in the water storage tank 17, the lower end of a treated watersupply pipe 32 is opened at a position near the intermediate portion ofthe water level in the water storage tank 17, higher than the positionwhere organic materials are deposited and separated, and lower than theposition where the detergent components are floated and separated. Theupper end of the treated water supply pipe 32 is communicated with thewater supply pipe 9 at a position in the downstream of the water supplyvalve 10. In the way of the treated water supply pipe 32, the treatedwater supply pump 25 is interposed. Further, in the way of the treatedwater supply pipe 32, the treated water suction valve 26 is interposedon the side of the water storage tank 17 with respect to the treatedwater supply pump 25, and the treated water supply valve 27 isinterposed on the side of the water supply pipe 9 with respect to thetreated water supply pump 25.

The bottom portion of the water storage tank 17 has a downwardly taperedshape like a hopper, and in the lowest portion thereof, provided is anoutlet port 33 through which water and the like in the water storagetank 17 is discharged. Connected to the outlet port 33 is one end of anoutlet pipe 34, the other end of which is communicated with the drainpipe 15 at a portion thereof in the downstream of the drain valve 14. Inthe way of the outlet pipe 34, an outlet valve 28 is interposed.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of control operation by thecontrol section 22 when washing is carried out by the washing machine 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the laundry machine 1 is started to operate,the control section 22 opens the water supply valve 10 to supply tapwater into the outer tub 5 to a predetermined level (Step S1) and thenrotates the pulsator 7 in a predetermined manner thus to carry out thewashing process (Step S2). Then, when the washing process ends, thecontrol section 22 opens the water storage valve 18 with the drain valve14 closed, thereby discharges water from the outer tub 5, and at thesame time stores the water discharged from the outer tub 5 into thewater storage tank 17 (Step S3). At this time, the outlet valve 28, thetreated water suction valve 26, and the treated water supply valve 27are closed and the operations of the detergent suction pump 23, thedetergent supply pump 24, and the treated water supply pump 25 arestopped.

After the water discharged from the outer tub 5 is stored in the waterstorage tank 17 in such a manner, the control section 22 energizes theanode 19 and the cathode 20 thus to electrolyze the water stored in thewater storage tank 17 (Step S4; electrolyzing process). As a result, theorganic materials and the detergent components are separated from thewater stored in the water storage tank 17. During this electrolyzingprocess (Step S4), the control section 22 operates the detergent suctionpump 23, so that the detergent components floated up and separated inthe water storage tank 17 are stored into the detergent container 30through the detergent suction pipe 29 (Step S14).

After carrying out the electrolyzing process (Step S4) for apredetermined time, the control section 22 stops the operation of thedetergent suction pump 23, opens the treated water suction valve 26 andthe treated water supply valve 27, and at the same time operates thetreated water supply pump 25, so that the water in the water storagetank 17 after the electrolyzing process, that is, the water freed of theorganic materials and the detergent components (treated water) issupplied into the outer tub 5 through the treated water supply pipe 32and the water supply pipe 9 (Step S5). At this time, the drain valve 14and the water storage valve 18 are closed, and the treated watersupplied into the outer tub 5 is stored in the outer tub 5.

After that, the control section 22 rotates the pulsator 7 in apredetermined manner to carry out an intermediate rinsing process as afirst step of the rinsing process (Step S6). This intermediate rinsingprocess is carried out for the purpose of separating (diluting) thedetergent components from the laundry containing a large amount ofdetergent components after the washing process. When the intermediaterinsing step ends, the control section 22 opens the water storage valve18 with the drain valve 14 closed, discharges the water in the outer tub5 from the outer tub 5, and stores the water discharged from the outertub 5 into the water storage tank 17 (Step S7). At this time, the outletvalve 28, the treated water suction valve 26, and the treated watersupply valve 27 are closed, and the operations of the detergent suctionpump 23, the detergent supply pump 24, and the treated water supply pump25 are stopped.

After the water in the outer tub 5 is stored into the water storage tank17 in such a manner, the control section 22 energizes the anode 19 andthe cathode 20 to electrolyze the water stored in the water storage tank17 (Step S8; electrolyzing process). As a result, the organic materialsand the detergent components are separated from the water stored in thewater storage tank 17. During this electrolyzing process (Step S8), thecontrol section 22 drives the detergent suction pump 23, thereby tostore the floated and separated detergent components in the waterstorage tank 17 in the detergent container 30 through the detergentsuction pipe 29 (Step S14).

After carrying out the electrolyzing process (Step S8) for apredetermined time, the control section 22 stops the operation of thedetergent suction pump 23, opens the treated water suction valve 26 andthe treated water supply valve 25, and drives the treated water supplypump 25, so that the water in the water storage tank 17 after theelectrolyzing process, that is, the water freed of the organic materialsand the detergent components (treated water) is supplied into the outertub 5 through the treated water supply pipe 32 and the water supply pipe9 (Step S9). At this time, the drain valve 14 and the water storagevalve 18 are closed and therefore, the water supplied into the outer tub5 is stored in the outer tub 5.

Thereafter, the control section 22 rotates the pulsator 7 in apredetermined manner, thereby to carry out a final rinsing process as afinal step of the rinsing process (Step S10). Then, after the finalrinsing process ends, the control section 22 opens the drain valve 14with the water storage valve 18 closed, thereby to drain the water inthe outer tub 5 through the drain pipe 15 to the outside of the laundrymachine 1 (Step S11). At this time, the control section 22 opens thedischarge valve 28, thereby to discharge the water and the like(separated and deposited organic materials and the remaining detergentcomponents and treated water) stored in the water storage tank 17through the outlet pipe 34 and the drain pipe 16 to the outside of thelaundry machine 1 (Step S12). Thereby, the organic materials separatedfrom the water in the water storage tank 17 can be discharged to theoutside of the water storage tank 17, so that the organic materials canbe prevented from accumulating in the water storage tank 17. After thewater in the outer tub 5 is wholly drained, the control section 22drives the motor 11 to rotate the inner tub 6 at a high speed andcarries out the dehydrating process for dispersing the water containedin the laundry by centrifugal force(Step S13), and then the operation ofthe laundry machine ends. The detergent components stored in thedetergent container 30 (Step S14) during the electrolyzing process(Steps S4, S8) are to be supplied into the outer tub 5 during the nextwashing process. At this time, the control section 22 operates thedetergent supply pump 24 to supply the detergent components stored inthe detergent container 30 into the outer tub 5 through the detergentsupply pipe 31.

In this embodiment, in the case of carrying out washing with the use ofa detergent, water stored in the outer tub 5 during the washing (watermixed with detergent components) is stored into the water storage tank17 at the time of draining and electrolyzed, so that the organicmaterials (pollutants separated from the laundry) and the detergentcomponents contained in the water can be separated. In addition, sincethe separated detergent components can be stored in the detergentcontainer 30, the stored detergent can be reused, for example, for thenext washing thus to realize economical washing.

Especially, since the detergent components can be separated with theorganic materials (pollutants) having been removed therefrom, washingwith a higher detergency can be realized when the separated detergentcomponents are reused.

Further, in this embodiment, since the water containing a large amountof detergent components stored in the outer tub 5 during the washingprocess and the rinsing process (intermediate rinsing process) is ledinto the water storage tank 17 and then electrolyzed, the detergentcomponents can be well separated.

Further, in this embodiment, the detergent components stored in thedetergent container 30 can be automatically supplied into the outer tub5 during the washing process of the next washing, which is veryconvenient.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the treated water from which theorganic materials and the detergent components have been removed by theelectrolysis can be supplied into the outer tub 5 and reused during theintermediate rinsing process and the final rinsing process, which isvery economical.

Especially, since the treated water obtained after the electrolyzingprocess is soft water from which metal ions such as calcium ions andmagnesium ions contained in tap water have been removed, washing with ahigher detergency can be realized when the treated water is suppliedinto the outer tub 5 and reused for washing.

The present invention is not limited to the contents of theabovementioned embodiments but can be variously modified within thescope of the claims.

For example, a filtration filter or an ozone generator may be interposedin the way of the treated water supply pipe 32. The ozone generator canhave, for example, a known structure in which a high voltage is appliedto a wire to generate ozone gas by corona discharge. With thesearrangements, treated water from which impurities are removed by thefiltration filter or treated water cleaned (sterilized) by dissolvingozone gas generated from the ozone generator can be supplied into theouter tub 5, so that washing with higher detergency can be realized byreusing the treated water.

The water storage tank 17 is not limited to one disposed inside thehousing 2 but may be disposed outside the housing 2.

When the water storage tank 17 is disposed inside the housing 2 as inthe abovementioned embodiment, it is sometimes difficult that the waterstorage tank 17 is arranged to have a dimension capable of containingthe same amount of water as that of the water stored in the outer tub 5during the washing process or the rinsing process. On the other hand,when the water storage tank 17 is disposed outside the housing 2, such aproblem does not occur and the whole amount of water stored in the outertub 5 during the washing process or the rinsing process (theintermediate rinsing process) can be stored electrolyzed in the waterstorage tank 17. Accordingly, the whole amount of water discharged fromthe outer tub 5 can be supplied again into the outer tub 5 as thetreated water, so that the amount of the water used for washing can bereduced and a larger amount of detergent can be separated and reused,which is more economical.

However, the present invention is not limited to a laundry machine inwhich the whole water stored in the outer tub 5 during the washingprocess or the rinsing process is stored in the water storage tank 17,but may be a laundry machine in which a part of the water stored in theouter tub 5 during the washing process or the rinsing process is storedin the water storage tank 17 and the remainder of the water is drainedthrough the drain pipe 15 to the outside of the laundry machine 1.

The detergent container 30 is not limited to one disposed inside thehousing 2 but may be disposed outside the housing 2.

The detergent components to be separated from the water stored in thewater storage tank 17 are floated up to the water surface and separatedand then stored into the detergent container 30 through the detergentsuction pipe 29 in the abovementioned embodiment. However, the presentinvention is not limited to such a structure. Alternatively, thedetergent components may be separated from the water in the waterstorage tank 17 by filtering the water in the water storage tank 17 inwhich the detergent components are floated by a filtration filter suchas one made of an unwoven fabric and then stored in the detergentcontainer 30. With such a structure, it is not necessary to wait untilthe detergent components in the water storage tank 17 are floated up tothe water surface and separated, so that the detergent components can beseparated from the water in the water storage tank 17 in a short time.

The present invention is not limited to such a structure that thedetergent components stored in the detergent container 30 areautomatically supplied into the outer tub 5 by driving the detergentsupply pump 24, but it may be, for example, one in which a user cansupply (charge) the detergent components stored in the detergentcontainer 30 by hand into the outer tub 5.

Though a pulsator type laundry machine 1 has been described as anembodiment of the present invention, the present invention is notlimited to a pulsator type laundry machine but can be applied to a drumtype laundry machine in which the laundry is put into a drum and washedby rotating the drum.

This application corresponds to Japanese Patent Application No.2004-220628, which was filed with the Japan Patent Office on Jul. 28,2004. The whole disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.2004-220628 is incorporated herein by reference.

1. A laundry machine comprising; a washing container in which laundrycan be put and water is stored at the time of washing; and a waterstorage tank into which the water discharged from the washing containercan be taken and stored, the laundry machine further comprising: anelectrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing the water stored in the waterstorage tank to separate organic materials and detergent componentscontained in the water; and a detergent container for storing thedetergent components separated by electrolysis in the electrolysisapparatus.
 2. A laundry machine according to claim 1, in which theelectrolysis apparatus includes an anode and a cathode disposed in thewater storage tank, and the anode is formed of iron, aluminum ormagnesium, or these alloys.
 3. A laundry machine according to claim 2,in which the cathode is formed of iron, aluminum or magnesium, or thesealloys or stainless.
 4. A laundry machine according to claim 3 furthercomprising guide means for guiding the water stored in the washingcontainer during washing process to the water storage tank.
 5. A laundrymachine according to claim 4 further comprising detergent supply meansfor supplying the detergent components stored in the detergent containerinto the washing container.
 6. A laundry machine according to claim 5,in which the detergent supply means supplies the detergent componentsstored in the detergent container into the washing container during thewashing process subsequent to the detergent component storage.
 7. Alaundry machine according to claim 1 further comprising organic materialdischarge means for discharging the organic materials separated from thewater stored in the water storage tank by electrolysis in theelectrolysis apparatus to the outside of the water storage tank.
 8. Alaundry machine comprising: a washing container in which the laundry canbe put and water is stored at the time of washing; a water storage tankinto which the water discharged from the washing container can be takenand stored; an electrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing the water storedin the water storage tank to separate organic materials and detergentcomponents contained in the water; a detergent container for storing thedetergent components separated by electrolysis in the electrolysisapparatus; detergent supply means for supplying the detergent componentsstored in the detergent container into the washing container; andtreated water supply means for supplying the water in the water storagetank freed of the organic materials and the detergent components byelectrolysis in the electrolysis apparatus to the washing container. 9.A method for reusing wash water comprising the steps of: storing thewash water used for laundry washing and discharged from the washingcontainer; and electrolyzing the stored water and separating the organicmaterials and the detergent components contained in the stored water;and taking out the separated detergent components.
 10. A method forreusing wash water according to claim 9 further comprising a step ofusing the detergent components for the next washing.
 11. A method forreusing wash water according to claim 9 comprising a step of reusing thewater freed of the organic materials and the detergent components forlaundry washing.
 12. A method for reusing wash water according to claim10 comprising a step of reusing the water freed of the organic materialsand the detergent components for laundry washing. 13-19. (canceled)